The Conversation

Achieving universal broadband: What the FCC can and cannot do

Written by Christopher Ali, Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, University of Virginia

The FCC has the power to save us from slow, expensive internet service.Snail and cable via shutterstock.com

It’s long-accepted common knowledge that high-speed internet access is a key to education, economic growth and even maintaining interpersonal connections. While the internet began as a public venture, in the last 20 years the private...

Why you should worry about the privatization of genetic data

Written by Kayte Spector-Bagdady, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Bioethics & Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan

Privatized. DNA image via www.shutterstock.com.

President Obama has promised to support a bold future for medicine where diagnostic testing and treatments aren’t just what’s best for most people – they’re what’s best for you.

This “precision medicine” takes individual variations in our genes and environments...

The history behind Philippine President Duterte's Obama insult

Written by Shelton Woods, Professor of East/Southeast Asian History, Boise State University

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks his mind. He does not back down.

Some believe he took his plain speaking too far this week before leaving the Philippines for a summit in Laos.

Reporters asked how Duterte intended to answer President Obama’s concerns over the more than 1,300 drug suspects killed over the past two months in...

How big data and algorithms are slashing the cost of fixing Flint's water crisis

Written by Jacob Abernethy, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan

A big data analysis indicates the focus on service line replacement may only go so far at fixing Flint's water issues. George Thomas/flickr

The water crisis in Flint, Michigan highlights a number of serious problems: a public health outbreak, inadequate urban infrastructure, environmental injustice and political failures. But when it comes to...

Why money is an impoverished metric of generosity

Written by Richard Gunderman, Chancellor's Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, Indiana University

Volunteers clean up after Hurricane Sandyjim.henderson, CC BY-SA

Philanthropy watchers such as Forbes, Business Insider and the Chronicle of Philanthropy regularly produce rankings of the most generous philanthropists in the United States.

On this basis, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are often ranked at the top of currently active philanthropists,...

Clinton's American exceptionalism puts a new twist on an old idea

Written by Abram Van Engen, Associate Professor of English, Washington University in St Louis

How does a belief in American exceptionalism shape foreign policy?

The views of the presidential candidates will likely be on display during a national security and military affairs forum hosted by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and NBC News this week. What may be most surprising is not what the candidates say, but the way in which...

How the G20 can ensure the marvelous gains from globalization aren't lost

Written by Farok J. Contractor, Distinguished Professor of Management & Global Business, Rutgers University

The G20 summit of world leaders just finished two days of meetings, during which they focused primarily on the many ongoing fires threatening the global economy. These include the alleged “dumping” of Chinese steel on other nations, worsening climate change, cybersecurity and the fear of competitive devaluations.

But perhaps the biggest...

New opening at The Conversation: data and applied math editor

Written by Maria Balinska, Editor, The Conversation

Solving a vehicle routing problem around London's Paddington StationPaddington Station Map, CC BY-SA

Do you love ideas, and care about how big data is transforming science and society? Or how mathematics can help solve social problems?

Are you adept at translating data into compelling graphics?

The Conversation US is looking for an editor to focus...

A hint of blue? The 2016 presidential election in Georgia

Written by M.V. Hood III, Professor of Political Science, University of Georgia

Might Georgia turn blue in the presidential race?

Polling in Georgia has the race as statistical dead heat. The Real Clear Politics average has the race with Trump at 44.3 percent and Hillary Clinton at 42.7 percent – Trump ahead by 1.6 percent.

In response, the Clinton campaign has sent additional funds to hire more field organizers in...

Why Russians support Putin's foreign policy

Written by Erik C. Nisbet, Associate Professor of Communication, Political Science, and Environmental Policy and Faculty Associate with the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, The Ohio State University

Tensions are again mounting between Russia and Ukraine.Dubiously claiming provocation, Russia has stationed 40,000 troops on the Ukrainian border. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of a full-scale invasion.

This hawkish Russian foreign policy is not new. The conflict has striking parallels to Russia’s short 2008 war with another...